Looks like the cops are making all cyclists dismount as they cross the Mount St overpass.As I skated over this morning, a female cop on a bike was there yelling at a cyclist as he rode over. She had only just rocked up and wasn't even off her motorbike yet.Saw a few cyclists walking over about 30min later and one of them told me that the cop was making all cyclists dismount.There are some path works going on and one of the entrances/exits on the Kings Park side has been blocked for a couple of weeks now. Hopefully this doesn't become like Trafalgar Bridge for you guys. I'm allowed to skate over Trafalgar but if they make me take my skates off for the overpass it'll take ages.

Saw someone walking over there this morning as I headed down towards the river. I just assumed that they had a flat and could not be bothered fixing it and was walking the rest of the way. Would be interesting to note if there have been complaints or indeed an incident.

What I don't get about this whole thing is the fact that the mount st footbridge has been designated a "Pedestrian priority zone" under the City of Perth bike plan.

From the implementation program under 2013-2014:

Mount St FootbridgePedestrian priority zoneBetween western side of Mount St and eastern side of Mount St – create a pedestrian priority zone with associated signage for slow cyclist speeds and pedestrian priority through the areaCoP/ Main Roads WA$14,000

So basically in a year or so, we will be allowed to ride on the bridge anyway. The $14,000 will probably just buy a couple of new signs. Why can't this be brought forward to now? Seems pointless to enforce a rule for the sake of it.

My guess is that this will be an alternative access way whilst the Halo On Mount is build:

There isn't any formal announcements about the PSP, but we did post on BTA an update from MainRoads indicating:The existing path link connection from the Mitchell PSP to Mount Street will be closed due to building works on a block abutting the freeway reserve. An alternative path connection will be constructed for the duration of the works. In addition, the existing railing was identified as a potential hazard and was replaced with a higher railing to prevent riders being thrown over it in the case of an accident.

My guess is that we will see this section 'diverted' soon, and potentially up and over the 'footbridge' Note, it is still classified as a 'footbridge' with 'no cycling signs' at least on the western end. The police presence this morning may be a reminder that it is still a 'footbridge' and we will see additional cyclists 'footing' in the near future.

RoFlmaTiC wrote:What I don't get about this whole thing is the fact that the mount st footbridge has been designated a "Pedestrian priority zone" under the City of Perth bike plan.

From the implementation program under 2013-2014:

Mount St FootbridgePedestrian priority zoneBetween western side of Mount St and eastern side of Mount St – create a pedestrian priority zone with associated signage for slow cyclist speeds and pedestrian priority through the areaCoP/ Main Roads WA$14,000

So basically in a year or so, we will be allowed to ride on the bridge anyway. The $14,000 will probably just buy a couple of new signs. Why can't this be brought forward to now? Seems pointless to enforce a rule for the sake of it.

I actually meet with the City of Perth following my response to the CoP's Bike Plan. Their issue is with the entrance from Mount St (west side), which hopefully will be 'fixed' up with the 'Halo on Mount' is completed. Hence why I think it is indicated as taking 12 months to make this area a 'slow cyclist speed' area.

I saw cops actually on the bridge booking people one morning about a year ago. Luckily they parked the car on the city side, so I quickly jumped off before I got caught. Did see them booking some unlucky fellow. I saw someone else walking across the other morning and figured the same thing must be up.

Lower entrance for the mount st footbridge is now closed as of my ride home tonight - only entrance is the single person gap in the fence on the upper side of the hill. Pretty sure that's gonna suck for all the folks trying to get onto the bridge while I'm trying to get out onto the bike path. And into speeding downhillers - the "new" opening is still pretty blind for the speed some clowns do down there.

Sweet freeway views from that Halo building. Must be the selling point - or the great views over this decades "Westralia Square" I'm pretty sure Perth would grind to a halt if there wasn't a big hole in the CBD somewhere.

rolandp wrote:Check out the way the cyclists have to stick their heads out onto the PSP in an attempt to see what is coming from the north. This due to the direction they end up on the new diversion - facing south.

It's starting to make the experience from Kings Park Rd. at terminal downhill speed onto St. Georges through green lights alongside lane diving drivers re-jigging for Mount Street red light before yourself trying to get right onto Miill Street having to emergency brake for the Pedestrians popping out from cars doing Frogger across road to Parmelia Hotel from Convention Centre on their way to work with cars on right stopping to door you as the passenger emerges as new pedestrian fodder into the Frogger experience while you're then about to get rear ended by another cyclist not aware of any of these reasons why you may need to stop quickly and him do so even quicker because everyone must ride fixed brakeless in the CBD... (big breath...) look relatively less of a risk than it used to be.

Thanks for your effort Roland.I was in disbelief when I was going downhill this morning ~9am past it, and even more Say What!? when going home seeing it uphill. Looked like it blocked the whole western lane to me when I passed it, going uphill had to look up around through the kink and two elevation changes plus the overpass entry to watch for people oncoming to get around it.

When going downhill in the morning I did think of this thread and naively thought never fear, the same traffic cops would be on the case and it would get sorted.

I am a particular class of pedestrian that has some extra road privileges. I am not forbidden from riding on footpaths. If I felt mischievous I suppose I could wander over there and try my luck riding across.

But arguing with a cop is not a wholly fruitful use of anyones time regardless of right and wrong. Besides, all in all I side with the work that cops do.

I have always wondered why those temporary fencing footings are installed perpendicular to the fence. They are a massive trip hazard when used adjacent to the footpath, especially one that is narrowed. can't understand why they aren't rotated 90 degrees to be parallel to the fence - they are still perfectly functional that way.

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